Captive Of The Count

Hello again, my lovely readers❤

Here is Amara's story as I promised and I am super excited to start it and share it with y'all.

Thank you for reading 'The Alpha King's Rejected Mate'❤

For the new readers, I think you can read this as a stand-alone as I wouldn't make too much reference to the first book but please feel free to read the first, if you like❤

This is my first Vampire romance and I will try my best to make it good😘😘😘 fingers crossed😇😇😇

***

Nyx's pov

Do not cry over him, he is not worth it! I reminded myself as the images of his betrayal flashed through my head making me remember how worthless he had made me feel, making me remember how his selfish actions had driven me to the brink of lunacy.

My fingers traced the deep cuts on my wrists reminding me yet again of what had happened. They had begun to heal now, they ached less and were beginning to fade but I couldn't care less as I was used to the pain and the scarring which was evident all over me.

"Mummy, why do you still look sad?" Amara pouted drawing me away from my thoughts, "Are you going to put yourself back to sleep again?" My heart tore at her last question and I could feel my tears welling in my eyes again.

I had been incredibly selfish, not thinking about how she was going to fare while I slit my wrists.

My only thoughts at that moment were getting away from him, away from this terrible pack of people without thinking for once about what was going to happen to her, "No baby, I am not putting myself back to sleep." I reached out to her and picked her from the ground before pulling her to my lap, "Mummy will always be here with you." I dropped a kiss on her forehead before smoothing her hair and hugging her tightly, "Always."

"Always." She smiled curling her tiny arms around me, I doubt she knew what the word meant but I could tell that in her cute little head it sounded like a pinky promise just as it sounded to me when I was her age.

We stayed in that position for a while, sitting on the grass behind the pack house basking in the soft rays of the sun. I loved this place, it was away from the pack members and from here you could take in the view of the beautiful meadow at the beginning of the forest with butterflies flocking over the flowers that grew in it, "Ooo! Butterflies!" Amara squealed as she caught sight of them, "Can I go play with them? I want to pluck flowers too!" She pleaded as she bounced on my lap while giving me the doe eyes, "Please, mummy, please…"

"Okay baby." I agreed and lifted her off my lap. She got on her feet immediately, and pressed a kiss to my cheek before running off while swinging fluffy in the air, "Be careful not to fall." I screamed after her as she reached the low bushes and began to hop after the pretty insects.

"I think our dear king is going to die if you do not forgive him sooner." I got startled at the voice, jumping up in fright with a gasp escaping my lips, "Well if you ask me, I rather he dies." I had turned around now to see Xerxes standing with his hands clutching his signature staff and a grim look on his face, "Did I startle you, Luna?"

"No, sorry." I finally said something before picking at my dress and sitting on the floor again, "I was just hmm…"

"Startled." He said sitting next to me with his staff laid between us, "How are you?"

"I am fine," I replied skeptically as I wasn't used to his company. We hadn't gotten to talk except on rare occasions, "How are you?" I asked twisting my fingers nervously while gazing at Amara who was still chasing the butterflies.

"She is quite the cheerful child." Xerxes spoke ignoring my question, his eyes gazing at where Amara was with a smile on his lips, "You have someone to live for."

"I guess she's better off without me." I sighed picking at the grass with my fingers while my head hung low, "Sometimes, I wish I had d…" I couldn't finish the sentence as I was struck on the head, "O*." I yanked my hand off the ground and touched it to the throbbing spot where he had whacked me with his staff, "What was that for?"

"Wishing you had died." He grunted with a glare, "That child needs you luna, your pack needs you, and sadly does your stupid King." I laughed at the last part of his statement.

I often wondered how he got around insulting the king freely and then I remembered how he was like a father figure to him and Lycus couldn't intentionally harm him, "You do need to be strong, Just like she will be." His gaze was directed on Amara now, "Just like your mother was." He mumbled softly but I heard it, I heard his words.

My mother, he knew my mother, "You knew my mother." I gazed at him sternly, "You knew her?"

"I never denied that I didn't." He shrugged like he didn't just drop a bomb, like the piece of information he just revealed wasn't surprising, as my initial emotion of surprise was unwarranted and would be termed as overreacting.

"You remind me of her." He continued with his fingers gripping onto his staff, "I knew you had to be hers when you first came but I had my doubts and now I am more than convinced that you are hers." He said, "The similarities aren't to be missed."

"How did you know her?" I asked with the hope that he'd tell me about her as I never had the chance to know her, "Please…"

"We were best friends, a trio, your father included." He began and at the mention of my father, his face turned sour.

"Back at the pack where you had come from, we were an inseparable trio, always hanging around together, always doing things together. And that was till our teenage years when your father began to attribute himself to bad traits. I was all too concerned and as time went on, she was mated to him and that was when I knew I had to leave." His hand gripped the staff tightly, "I didn't want her with him cause of his attitude and them being mates was automatically kicking me out, I couldn't stay back and I had to leave but we still kept in touch till she died." His tone had a shaky edge now like he was reliving the pain of losing his best friend, my mother, "She never told me that she was pregnant and that was what made me skeptical about you being hers."

"Why did you leave? You could have found your mate." He laughed at my statement, his laughter made me feel like I had asked a dumb question, "Did I say anything wrong?"

"No luna, you didn't." He smiled placing a hand on my shoulder, "You see, not all wolves are born with the ability to find mates but the few ones without that ability have something called a soul bond."

"A soul bond?" It sounded weird but I waited on him to finish.

"A soul bond isn't like when you meet someone and catch the whiff of a unique scent and boom instant attraction!" He explained, "A soul bond happens slowly at first, and then it goes into full-blown attraction followed with the sparks when you touch and that person filling the empty spot in your heart. It sounds like falling in love, but it's not. Soul bond leaves you empty, so empty that you feel the hollow physically till you find that missing part of you, that soul that compliments yours."

"Sounds like falling in love to me." I laughed.

"Oh, it's not my dear." He gave me a sad smile, I could see the crinkles at the corners of his eyes, "Only one person can feel it, that physical emptiness you feel can only be sealed by that person, you can't be with any other person unless your chosen soul bonded person. It isn't like the mate bond that you can undo and choose someone else and then there is a mark." He moved his hair at his neck exposing a red crystal marking like a tattoo, "That's my mark."

"You had a soul bond?"

"I did but she never loved me back and so I left and took the vow of involuntary celibacy to become a healer." He sighed, "It was of no use having anything if it wasn't with her, it was of no use loving someone if it wasn't her." He sighed, "It's not like I had a choice."

"I am so sorry." I gave him a weak smile covering his hand with mine.

"I do not think Amara will be as unlucky as I am."

"What do you mean?" I asked knowing what he was trying to say.

"She can't have a mate but she can have a soul bond." He added.

"No!" I almost shrieked, glaring at him, "What do you mean my baby is never going to find love?"

"She will." He said still looking as calm as ever, "We just have to cross our fingers that he does love her back as she will be the only one to feel it."

"Is there nothing we can do? How did you know?"

"No Luna, we can't do anything." He held my gaze and I saw how sad his eyes were, "I knew from having one too, I can recognize people with one."

"But she has no mark," I argued.

"Appears on her 18th birthday." He shrugged.

"Ooh." My hands fell to my laps with my heart saddened with sadness at the prospects of my daughter's future, "Thank you for letting me know." I said with a small smile, "Do you mind me asking who the person you shared a soul bond with was?"

I never got the chance to get my answer as Lycus came barreling into the fields.

At first, I could smell him, and then the thumping of his feet couldn't be missed plus the stressed energy radiating off him, Let's go! As long as I want to be around Spyro, I do not want to be near him! Hera said and she didn't have to repeat herself. I leaped to my feet, "Amara!" I yelled and almost immediately she turned around racing towards me with fluffy in one hand and the flowers she had picked in the other.

"Your highness." Xerxes greeted with a bow, "You are still alive and not dead from heartbreak yet, I see."

"Xerxes." Lycus called in acknowledgment with annoyance in his tone, "Nyx." His voice was softer now and he tried to step toward me.

"Do not come any closer!" I growled. Amara had reached me now and I snatched her up in my arms.

"Flowers? Mummy." She handed them to me before turning her face towards locus, "No flowers for you, you made mummy cry." She huffed.

I gave lycus an icy glare before turning on my heels and threading towards the castle. I turned back to see him trying to follow me but Xerxes had stopped him which made me glad. I felt bad for him knowing that he loved someone and he never got to absorb the full feeling as if you have ever had it too? A small voice at the back of my head said.

Xerxes had caught up with me now and we were walking towards the castle together with Lycus staying back where we had left him, "Thank you." I said to Xerxes as soon as we got in, "Thank you very much."

"You are welcome, child." He said placing his hand on my head, "All these trials you shall overcome and become one of the greatest Queens, you just have to be strong."

"I will be strong," I mumbled and turned around to leave.

"Nyx." He called and I turned on my heels, "The person I had the soul bond with was your mother."

Amara's pov

"Once upon a land under the deity of the moon goddess where men were wolves and wolves were men..."

"But they still are..." Iris groaned as always, staring at me with her eyes twinkling with mischief. I smirked and brandished my makeshift wooden sword before her making her squeal with pretend fright, "I surrender! I surrender!" She cried out with her arms raised in the air earning a smirk from me.

"There lived three most powerful wolves in the supernatural world, they were called the potens lupi!" I continued, emphasizing my last words, "Two were born brought to the world at first, their fates tied together, the grey wolf and the red wolf, one born with a heart of gold, the other was the spawn of the devil! A bitch from the pits of hell!" I growled remembering how she had ruined my childhood.

"Bad words Amara, mummy said no bad words," Eros said looking up from his entwined fingers which he had been twisting, an attitude long developed.

"Fine." I rolled my eyes and silently pleaded for them to let me continue the story which they have heard numerous times but I always found a way to tell it differently making it seem like a brand new story, "The red wolf who was filled with unnecessary angst, treachery, jealousy, and spite. All these attributes were driven by her power-drunk attitude, she thought that there should be no one more powerful than her and thus! She murdered her mate!" They all gasped, "And crafted falsehood with her magic thereby ruining the life of the silver wolf which was the last wolf, deceiving the entire supernaturals and letting evil prevail."

"Then what happened?!" Iris bounced excitedly making me smile, "Tell us, tell us, tell us!"

"The silver wolf survived no matter the hardship thrown at her, she lived through the pain never giving up." I jumped on the bed this time acting out my demonstrations as I told the tale, "She survived it all, rising from weak to strong, from an omega to a Queen defeating the evil hybrid which was the red wolf and then from a detested wolf to the leader of the wolves council and now she is the greatest wolf to ever grace the lands of the supernaturals!" My breathing was heightening as I acted out my words raising my sword, "She is Queen Nyx Evander!"

"And also your admirable mother." Rose winked cutting in, "And my Godmother." She added standing up from the chair on which she was seated, "And she is standing right at the door ready to scold you for the trick you pulled on my dad this morning." She glared at me saying her last words.

"Mummy!" Eros scrambled from the floor and ran towards the door. I turned with all nervousness to see my mother standing at the door welcoming Eros into her open arms, Iris was also there to get a big hug from her Godmother.

"Mum." I grimaced hiding my makeshift sword behind me even though I knew she had seen it, "How lovely it is to see you..." I added nervously stepping down from the bed. I could already hear Rose giggling as I shifted on my feet and I sent her a scowl but the clearing of my mum's throat brought me back to her.

She was leaning against the doorway with her arms crossed over her chest and her green eyes glowering with anger, "Where were you earlier today?" She asked probably already knowing the answer to that and I knew there was no use in avoiding the question or trying to lie, "Excuse us." She said to the other occupants of the room while bending to give Eros a goodbye kiss. Rose sent me a sad look before grabbing onto her sister's hand (Iris) and onto Eros's and they walked out of the room leaving my mother and me.

"Amara." She sighed walking up to my bed to sit and then she patted the spot next to her indicating that I should move to join her.

"I am sorry mummy." I sat next to her wrapping my arms around her in a hug while pleading with her through the mind link to forgive me, "I am sorry I disobeyed your orders and daddy's too and outsmarted uncle Andros to go across the borders."

"We are only trying to protect you." She lifted my arms off her body and held them, "I was your age when I had you, young and naive. I couldn't be the best mother and I put us in conditions where I could have lost you." I nodded at her words, she didn't need to remind me of those sad times we had, I remembered clearly, "But now, I am matured and I have everything within my power to protect you and your brother, please don't put yourself in danger, the war brought us too many enemies." She added looking into my eyes with her pleading orbs.

"But the vampires are extinct mum, there is nothing to fear," I whined not fully understanding why they were so scared.

"Helena crossed a lot of people, not just the vampires, them being extinct doesn't mean we do not have to be careful and unfortunately, we inherited her enemies." She explained further, "Please Amara listen to us."

"Okay." I nodded with a sigh giving up my plans of exploring the northern parts of the forest later that night, "I will do as you say."

"You had better." My dad's voice caught our attention as he walked into the room, "Your mother complained often of how I cut heads, we wouldn't want a repeat of that if something was to happen to you." He got to where we were and swooped down to kiss my mum, "Hey baby."

"How was patrol?" She asked standing up to hug him, "Hope it was fine?"

"Stressful as usual." He replied hugging her close, "But having my mate in my arms at the end of the day is all I need to forget however bad my day was." I smiled at their lovey-dovey blatant affection and in the corner of my heart I wished to have that someday, "And you have been getting into trouble?" He growled at me furrowing his brows and I gave a tight-lipped smile.

"It won't happen again," I said quickly and he pulled me closer draping his arm across my shoulders.

"Make sure it doesn't my dear." He sighed, "You nearly gave your mother a coronary and almost earned Andros a demotion." I winced slightly feeling sorry as I heard his words, "We are only trying to protect you."

"I promise, it won't happen again." I said with all determination to keep my promise, "Am I forgiven?"

"We can never be angry at you for too long." She said bringing me closer for a hug which my dad joined in.

"I want a hug too." We heard Eros squeal as he ran into the room with his face smeared with chocolate.

"Come here, my boy." He ran into my father's arms and he was picked up, all four of us standing wrapped in each other's arms with sighs of delight and I was glad knowing that I had them around me, it made up for the terrible start my mother and I had.

"You should get dressed Amara, the guests will soon arrive." My mother said pulling away from us and the rest of us disengaged, "We all have to get ready." She picked up Eros and kissed me on the cheek, "Please be snappy about it, a good princess never associates with tardiness."

"Yes, your highness." I did a mock bow causing the rest of us to laugh. My dad kissed me on the cheek too and they all left the room leaving me to myself.

It wasn't long before the door opened and maids trooped in with my outfits and accessories for the night, getting ready to doll me up for the event, I sat on my chair patiently with my heart bubbling with excitement as I was being dressed for my sixteenth birthday.

I stood before the mirror admiring my reflection which was my favorite thing to do but not enough to make me a narcissist. I smiled taking in my appearance, satisfied with what the maids had done and I knew my thank yous weren't enough.

My blonde hair was done in a lace braided bun with my emerald studded crown sitting atop it. My face was made up accentuating my features and my rosy lips were rogued making the lips a deeper shade of red.

I had on a red gown with a heart-shaped neck, corseted bodice which was tight enough to snatch my waist but loosened enough for me to breathe, and then it was completed with an elegant flare at the hips. I did a mini twirl in front of the mirror and moved next to my pair of white heels to put them on when I heard shuffling from my bathroom.

Can you hear that? I asked my wolf Cora moving to the bathroom immediately and she replied in the affirmative, I turned the knob and opened the door and then I jumped in with my extracted claws ready to attack but there was no one in there and everything looked the same, smelt the same.

I looked around the big bathroom and turned to leave when my eyes caught inscriptions on the bathroom mirror, fear coursed through me and I began to tremble as I let out a piercing screech.

Immediately I screamed I could hear the thudding of feet and I could smell my parents. Ideally, I was supposed to open the bathroom door and let them in but the other part of me that felt a thrill and was excited about the present situation jumped towards the door, jammed it, and rested my back on it.

Do not do anything stupid, Amara! Cora groaned and at the same time, my subconscious pricked me. My head wanted me to spill what just happened but my heart wanted to remain in here with the door shut and my rush of excitement filled to the brim, Open that door, Amara! Cora screamed at me this time but I blocked her off. There was something about fear that got me, something about the rushing adrenaline and the need to be alert that excited me to no end and this was the perfect situation.

"Is everything okay in there?!" My parents asked at the same time banging on the door, "Are you okay Amara?"

"Yes, I am." I answered them with a light laugh, "I just saw a cockroach and it freaked me out."

"I chose not to believe that you saw a cockroach, open the door!"

"I am telling the truth!" I felt really bad for lying to them, "I will be downstairs soon." After standing my ground for a while and demanding that I needed privacy, they all left to leave me alone in the bathroom.

I sighed and looked at the mirror again, the words boldly written with blood, I didn't want to know whose blood that was and some of it was dripping to the cabinet top.

I am watching you!

I gulped reading the words again and I knew I could run out and tell them what had happened but then I decided against it and cleaned the mirror, maybe it was a prank! I told myself as I dropped the rag in the trash can and walked out of the bathroom. It must be a silly prank pulled by rose and my other friends.

I took in deep breaths as I walked to the dresser in my room with fear absorbing my being. I was about to put on my shoes when I saw another note on the dresser top. I picked it up and read its contents.

Scream all you want and yell! Act smart too but nothing will save you from me.

Just then the door opened and I shoved the piece of paper aside. It was my mother, "Are you unwell Amara?" She asked as I turned to her, "You look flushed." My breathing was also hard with my heaving chest.

"It's nothing mother." I smiled at her and bent over to wear my shoes, "Let's go downstairs, the guests are probably waiting." I wanted to get out of the room as soon as possible.

"You are hiding something from us." She sighed and I gazed at her with a look of pretending unbelief, "Amara you cannot hide things from your loved ones, you saw how I endangered our lives in the past cause of secrecy, not speaking up, and not opening up to my mate."

"It's nothing." I said to her, "I promise not to keep secrets." I smiled taking her hand in mine, "Let's go downstairs." She took mine without argument and we began to leave the room but my eyes never missed the shadow looming over my room balcony. I turned around in shock trying to catch who it was and then it disappeared.

"What is that?" My mother asked noticing how hard I was breathing again and she didn't miss my fleeting eyes looking all over the place, "Amara." She groaned and let go of me. I couldn't stop her as she walked over to the balcony to check only to find it empty.

"You see nothing is there." I shrugged as she came back with disappointment written all over her. We held hands again and began to walk out of the room. I cast one last gaze back at the balcony and it was there again, the shadow prominent as ever.

I gulped, I should scream and tell them. This wasn't a damn prank, it was real, someone is after my life and I did the opposite of what I should do. I kept mute knowing fully well that if I did my life will be endangered. And I did keep mute, I had just created my doom."

Amara's pov

A full moon rose above the pitch-black clouds illuminating the skies and casting its light against the darkness just as it reflected on Cora's fur.

The wind blew softly against her caressing her fur as well as causing the tree branches to rustle which was the only sound that could be heard as it blew through the forest.

We were being followed. I could feel it. My statement wasn't a result of paranoia or anything. It was a fact, one which I have known ever since my sixteenth birthday and for five years now he followed me. I knew. I had kept it a secret.

I'd always wonder if he was who I thought he was, a vampire for sure, the blood gave him away.

But was he actually who I thought he was? Was he Ares? He always left clues that he was watching me and my every move.

I had always searched hoping to catch a glimpse of hair as blonde as mine or something else that I noticed a long time ago which would convince me that it was him but I had nothing.

I was pulled further into doubt by the notes and occasional chilling feeling of someone watching me and I had begun to think it was probably not Ares.

The novelty of being stalked by a handsome vamp who would sweep me off my paws and steal my breath was beginning to wear off as I had outgrown my childish fantasy. I blame it on the books and of course the fortune tellers who made an effort to read my palms and talk about a future with a devastatingly handsome man and an enchanting love story.

I had even bought the idea of them being extinct and this was some other creature but be it a vampire or not, I wanted to know what he wanted and why he still hasn't revealed his identity. what was the whole point of stalking me for years?

The chilling feeling that left goose bumps rising on my skin any time he was near swept through me again. He was nearer, probably ready to pounce on us knowing that we had our first official hunt today, he was pro….

Pay attention, Amara! Cora snapped as she leaned on her paws with eyes narrowed into slits and tail wagging excitedly. She was behind a bush and I could see that she had set her sights on a rabbit feasting quietly unaware of the dark fate about to befall it.

Starting with meek Animals? I scoffed with an eye roll, How the hell are we going to prove our worth by killing a rabbit on our first hunt? What happened to deers?

She ignored me and kept her eyes trained on her prey. She was careful to stay fixed in her position, unmoving lest she startles it.

Pounce on it already! I groaned and just then we heard shuffling behind us causing the rabbit to move from its feeding stance. Its ears were perked and turned upwards in alert and it looked around trying to survey its surroundings.

Whatever is in those bushes had better not cause my prey to dart off! Cora growled in frustration as she ducked repositioning herself with the most indistinct moves I had ever seen her make and I snorted, all these expertise for a rabbit.

Pounce! I growled and she did as I bid but the white-haired creature slipped from her grasp gliding between her paws and off she took chasing after it with her grunts filling the air and the tiny squeaks coming from the rabbit.

She chased after it raising debris and dirt as she tried to have it in her clutches but it was quick to slip again and down it went burrowing into a narrow hole.

Cora went after it in all aggressiveness digging at the entrance of the hole with her paws, growling as she shoveled dirt over like it will bring the rabbit out of hiding, I can't believe I lost it!

It's okay Cora, let's try again, I tried to pacify her as she withdrew from the hole.

She turned away from it and began to trot further into the forest. Her snout turning up to pick up the scent of familiar grounds. We passed by the stream where my family and I loved to goof off and then we went further and deeper into the forest.

He had stopped following, I could tell. His presence was gone and so was the prickly feeling I always felt when he lurked behind watching me. I decided to rid my thoughts of him and focus on the hunt. We had to ace this which was amongst the very first of tasks. We needed something to fill up for the inadequacy we felt which came with being a silver wolf and having no extraordinary powers.

She got into another thicket of bushes and ducked behind them before moving slowly towards the front. I could see what she saw.

A big deer was feeding before her and as usual oblivious to its surroundings. It was the perfect time to pounce and just as Cora was about to do so, the bushes behind her rustled harshly, and off went the deer who was startled by the noise before she could even think of sprinting after it.

"Oh No!" Cora let out a harsh breath as she turned around to face where the noise had come from and out of the bushes came Uncle Andros and his mate, Aunt Lillith, "What is going on?" She sneered at them, "You chased my prey! You are not following me, are you?"

"Of course not!" Andros answered stepping towards Amara, "We are just taking a walk and basking in the moonlight."

"You have always been a bad liar uncle Andros!" She sneered at him before turning to his mate who just stayed calm on her paws, "Aunt Lillith."

"Sorry for chasing your prey, Cora." She apologized.

"He sent you didn't he? And I am sure mummy has a hand in this too! Why can't I be left alone to take care of myself, it's a hunt and I am not a child anymore." She growled at them and I could swear that I heard whispers of laughter or it was just me being stressed out from the hunt.

"They do not want you getting hurt Cora." Andros said stepping forward to lay a paw on her but she jerked away from him and I could feel her anger as I felt it too. I was tired of being babied and guarded. We both were tired of being sheltered.

"I can take care of myself!" Cora groaned backing away from them, "I want you both gone."

"The Alpha and luna instructed that we be with you till you have your first kill and then bring you home." Lillith explained, "Please…"

Fuck it! I growled forcing control over my wolf and pushing her backward. I growled at them angered by their words as if I was an adolescent wolf. I was quick to turn on my heels, kicking dirt in their eyes, and then I ran off sprinting towards the boundaries. If they wouldn't let us hunt in our territory, I could as well do it outside.

I quickened my pace making sure to run haphazardly while kicking dirt in the air as I wanted them to lose track of me.

What the hell are you doing?! Give me back control Amara! Cora screeched but I ignored her hastening my trot. Soon I reached the border and I pushed through the barrier with all the force I could muster while bearing the pain of forced breaking and shortly enough I was out. I had broken through the borders and skipped far away from my territory and onto unmarked lands.